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适可而止 (shì kě ér zhǐ) — to stop at the right point; to not overdo it

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'stop at the right point' — know your limit and don't overdo it (drinking, criticizing, joking, etc.). Implies a deliberate choice to pull back before things go too far.

idiom
to stop at the right pointto not overdo it

Examples

  • 适可而止，。
    Hē jiǔ yào shì kě ér zhǐ, hē duō le shāng shēn tǐ.
    Drinking should be done in moderation; drinking too much harms the body.
  • ，适可而止。
    Yóu xì suī rán hǎo wán, dàn yě yào shì kě ér zhǐ.
    Though games are fun, you also need to know when to stop.
  • 适可而止，。
    Pī píng bié rén shí yīng gāi shì kě ér zhǐ, bú yào tài guò fèn.
    When criticizing others, you should stop at the right point and not go too far.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 適; 适 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
啻
啻chì適shì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 適 pairs 辶 (walking) with a sound part; its inner part was originally 啻 and was stylized into 啇. The simplified 适 is a later variant.

Open 适 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

止 was drawn as a footprint pointing up, with three toes and a sole, originally showing a foot.

Open 止 →
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Idioms & Set Phrases

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